“Resistance” in municipalities damaging quality of local governance – Granger
President David Granger thinks that the “resistance” being put up by various local government officials is hampering the progress that Guyana so needs at that level.
During a recent Public Interest programme, Granger told reporters that municipal leaders who are linked to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) “seem reluctant to pay simple courtesy when I visit…Some regional chairmen do not even come out to see me, especially the Region Two Chairman.”
Granger said that Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan hosted numerous conferences where Regional Chairmen and Mayors refused to show up.”
“There is a lot of resistance taking place in the municipalities and this is damaging the quality of local governance,” said Granger.
The President said that it is important for governance to be seen at all three levels—national, regional and municipal. “If the three don’t work together there will be not only discontinuities but in some cases, resistance, and this is what is affecting the local government system.”
Granger continued, “In measuring the performances of the municipalities, there must be a greater appreciation by the mayors that they are not serving their political parties. They are serving the people of Guyana who are living in that municipal area. This is an intellectual hurdle that some of the mayors and regional chairmen have to overcome. That spirit of resistance is really causing hurt.”
